Peter h



(No Model.)

. P. H. PLYNN.

ENVELOPE.

No. 484,733. Patented 001;. 18, 1892.

W] TNESSES: Q 11v VEN TOR, Z 3W ,4 TTORNE PETER H. FLYNN, OF SYRACUSE,NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR "PATENT OFFICE.

TO THE FLYNN BUSINESS ENVELOPE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ENVELOPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 484,733, dated October18, 1892. Application filed Novemberll, 1891. Serial No. 411,590- (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PETER H. FLYNN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelopes forCarrying Letters or a Device for Opening Envelopes, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in opening envelopes and in theconstruction of envelopes, which have heretofore been usually opened bycutting them with a paper-cutter or a knife, or by tearing off the endsor corners, thereby frequentlyinjuring the contents and causingconsiderable delay and inconvenience. My invention is designed to avoidsuch injury to the contents of the envelope and to save such delay andtrouble in opening a sealed envelope by providing a simple and easymethod of opening the envelope and taking out the letter or inclosurctherein contained without the use of any mechanical means-such as apaper-cutter or a knifeand without tearing off the end or any otherportion of the letter or the envelope. My invention will be foundespecially valuable to business men who have a large number of lettersto read each day. I attain these objects by my handy envelope-openingdevice, which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichsimilar letters refer to similar figures and parts throughout the same.

My invention consists in perforating the folded edge of the envelopewith small holes or eyelets, similar in the manner or arrangement andconstruction to those used in the manufacture of blank-books havingstubs to be detached from the other parts thereof, such as receipt-booksand check-books. I also cut out from the edge of the envelope a slot oraspace of sufficient size to enable any person to seize the contents ofthe envelope at such opening in one hand-usually with the thumb andforefinger -while the envelope is held in the other hand. The envelopeis opened by pulling the letter or contents of the envelope toward andagainst the side having the perforated edge, which readily gives way andbreaks open under the pressure, thus allowing the letter to be taken outwithout the trouble of cutting open the envelope or employing anymechanical means to open the same. By cutting the edge of the envelopewith a slot or space for grasping its contents and also having theresistance of the paper weakened by perforations or eyelets I can openany sealed envelope readily in the manner described. I usually place theslot or open space for grasping the contents of the envelope at the sidenear the corner of the envelope, because Ifind that I thereby obtain apurchase or leverage which materially assists in opening the same bybreaking away the paper at the perforations; but the space for takinghold of the letter or contents of the envelope can be placed at eitherend or either side of the envelope in connection with such perforatededge with substantially the same result. It can be used on either sideor either end of the envelope in the manner herein de scribed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents my device for openingenvelopes, showing the envelope sealed and supplied with my inventionfor opening the same. A is the body of the envelope. 0 is the letterinclosed therein. At point B is seen the incision or slotmade in theside or edge of the envelope, at which place the contents can be takenhold of preparatory to opening. D D are the perforations or holes in theenvelope.

Fig. 2 illustrates the manner of using my device for opening envelopes,showing the method of taking the letter out of the envelope. Theenvelope A is held in one hand. With the other hand the letter C isseized at the slot or opening B and pulled against the perforated edge DD with sufficient force to break the envelope open and allow the lettercontained therein to be taken out.

Fig. 8 shows the manner of construction of my device for openingenvelopes. A is the envelope. B is the space or incision made in theside of the envelope for seizing hold of the letter contained therein. DD are the perforations made in the edge in order to enable the letter tobe taken out by breaking the paper in the manner herein described.

I prefer to use this device on the lower edge of. an envelope, as itdoes not then interfere with any printed matter or with the postagestamp on the envelope. It will thus be observed that by locating thethumb and finger aperture upon the weakened edge and at or ad acent tothe end of the envelope I am thereby enabled to produce a very strongleverage against the weakened edge of the paper when the inclosed letteror card is seized, thereby more readily tearing open or breaking theweakened edge of the envelope for the purpose of removing its contents.

Having described my invention,

what I desire to secure by Letters Patent and claim An envelope havingone of its lateral edges reduced in strength and an opening in said edgeat or adjacent to the end of the envelope for the purpose of producing aleverage against said edge when the inclosed letter is seized.

PETER H. FLYNN. Witnesses:

WALTER W. MAGEE,

PATRICK LYNCH.

